Cartons



H. C. HOBBS April 11, 1961 CARTONS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed NOV. 6, 1959 INVENTOR. Harry 0, Hobbs BY $6M Hl$ ATTORNEYS April 11, 1961 H. c. HOBBS 2,979,250

HIS AT TORNE Y8 United States Patent() CARTONS Harry "c; Hobbs, 214* Cambridge Road, Bethel Park, Pa; Filed Nov.-6,-1959, ser. No. 851,303'

24 Claims. or. ma-32y This invention relates to a-carton made from a single blank of flexible sheet materialwhichiscut and folded into a container for various commodities. such as. fruits,

including citrus'fruits and boxes ofberries, vegetables,.

articles of manufacture,- etc. More particularly, the carton is one which has a recessed bottom and inwardly sloping sides to permit vertical stacking.

Within the past few years, the container industry, par! ticularly that segment: which produces cartons for shipping and warehousing commodities, especially perishable fruits andvegetables, has soughtto reducecosts of containers, boxes, etc. In addition,shippers ofcommodities have been diligent in their efforts to eiiecteconomies in stacking, especially for those cartonswhich carry-perishtable and/or easily damagedcommodities; However; useof lids adds materially to container and-shippinggcostsand accordingly, there have been numerousv attempts to employ lidless containers.

Theretofore, cardboard containers without lids, includ ing those without lids and withia special lipjaround the upper edge of the side walls for supporting-a carton to-be stacked vertically thereon, have not been satisfactory for shipment in railroad cars .or trucks.- Whenthe lidless cartons, including those with thespecialzlip, have been arranged in vertical stacks in arailroad car or in a' truckand then subjected to normalbumpingtand jostling encountered in shippinglfrom one station to another; the cartons shift from side to side in transit. It has been foundthat the speciallip is not strong enough to support a carton filled with a commodityand, consequently, ship ments using lidless containersdncluding those withithe special lip-arrive at. a destination in poorcondition ,withthe carton broken, torn, and/or bulged out of shape with accompanyingdamagetoits contents. Such broken, torn and out ofshape cartons are for practical purpose-impossible to restack. I 1 A i In marketing of produce; there is an increasing practice to place the produce yin-consumer packages at the shipping point. and" then to transport. the-consumer packages in a .mastercarton; Useof consumer packages. arid-mastercartons adds substantially to shipping costs, One effort to reduce these shipping costs has been utilizat'ion-ofvlidless master cartons. However, the lidless mastercartons;

have the same drawbacks as those lidless. containerspreviously'discussedherein and, accordingly; arenotin wide-.

spread use.

Myinvention provides a' cartonwhich: is trnade. from. a single blank of V a flexible :sheet 'rnater-ial anduwhich does not require a lid for vertical stacking. .When my carbottoms of "cartonsiin a vertical stack which cartonsQar '2 ions are stacked vertically, they do not shift from-side to side in transit and arrive at a destination in: good conditionwithout damage to their contents; Specifica1ly,-my invention comprises a single blank for a cartonwhich' blank is made from flexible sheet material adapted for folding. into the carton. The blank comprises a bottom panel and a side panel which extends along each side of the bottom panel for substantially the length-of the side.- The side panelis-eintegral with-the bottom panel andis separated therefrom-by a fold crease. A score line divides each side panelinto a downfold paneland an upfold panel. The score'line extends" substantially parallel to the fold crease and from end to end of the side panel. Each side panel is severed from its adjacent corner side panel at least alongthe ends;of the adjacent corner downtold panels. Each of the ends of the upfold panels tapers inwardly toward the center part thereof from the score-line which divides a side panel into its downfold and upfold'panels to the outer edge of the up-- fold panel which forms the top of the carton. Each upfold panel has an'end flap integral with at least one end thereof with the end flap being separated from its upfold panel by a fold line which tapers inwardly toward the center part of its upfold panel from thescore line toits' outer edge. The fold line which separates an end'flap from1 its' upfold panel comprises an end of the upfold pane Each of the downfold panelsfolds downWardlyfrom the bottom panel along the fold crease to form a r'e' cessedbottom for'the carton; Each of the'upfold'pahels folds upwardly and: backwardly upon its downfold panel along-its score line to forminwardly and upwardly sloping sides of the carton. Each endflap of 'the side" panels" isv in'engagement with its adjacent corneri'upfold panel when the blank is assembled into alcarton.

A modification of my invention" comprises" a blankwhich has the bottom panel, side panels comprising-'- the downfold and upfold panels defined and-arranged as de"-' separated from its adjacent corner upfold panels l5y{ a score line which tapers inwardly towardthe 'centerj of-the adjacent c'orner'upfoldpanel from the score line which divides the upfoldpanelfi'om its downfold panel to' the" ou'terl'edge of the'upfold panel'which torrn's'the' top'jot the carton. The corner panels are separated'from'aiij a cent corner downfold'paneis by a score'line' which ex tends from the corner of the bottom panel to the score line'of the upfold panel which divides the upfold panel. from the downfold panel. Adjacent corner-'downfold panels; :are severed from one another along the' score line which extends from the corner o f the bottom panel' tothe' score line of'the upfold panel which scoreyline.

dividesthe upfold panel from-its downfold panel.

' This {modification also has the recessed-bottom and inwardly-sloping sides previously described' hereina' mane accompanying drawings, I have 'shb'wh preferred Figure 2*is an isometric view ofth e'blank of "Figure 1.1;. partially assembled'intoacarton; "Figure 3is an isometric view Lof'a' vertical stack ot'? cartons made from blanks'ide ntical to 'that'fof Figure 1;"

j "Figure 4" is v a partial section view of side jwalls and "made from blahksideiiticalto that of' 'Figur'elj Figure 5 is a plan view of a blank showing a second embodiment of my invention;

Figure 6 is a plan view of a blank showing a third embodiment of my invention; and

Figure 7 is an isometric view of the blank of Figure 6 assembled into its carton.

The single blank which I use for my carton is made from flexible sheet material which is folded into the carton. Examples of satisfactory sheet material include cardboard, corrugated cardboard, paperboard, pasteboard and plastics which are flexible and can be folded to form the carton.

Referring to Figures 1-4 inclusive, a single piece blank 1 f flexible sheet material comprises my carton. The blank has a bottom panel 2 and four side panels 3a, 3b, 3c and 3d With one side panel extending along each side of the bottom panel for the length of the side and integral with the bottom panel. A fold crease 4 separates the side panel from the bottom panel.

A score line 5 divides each side panel 3 into a downfold panel 6 and an upfold panel 7 with the score line running substantially parallel to the fold crease 4 and extending from end to end of the side panel. Adjacent corner side panels, such as panels 3a and 3b, are severed from one another from the corner of the bottom panel to their outer edges 8 which form the top of the carton so that each side panel can be folded and positioned independently of one another.

Each of the ends of a pair of upfold panels 7a and 7c disposed on opposite sides of the bottom panel taper inwardly toward the center part of the upfold panel from the score line 5 to the outer edge 8 of the panel which forms the top of the carton.

Integral with each end of a second pair of upfold panels 7b and 7d disposed on opposite sides of the bottom panel 2 and comprising adjacent corner upfold panels to the first pair of upfold panels 7a and 7c is an end flap 9.- A fold line 10 separates the end flap 9 from its upfold panel with the. fold line tapering inwardly towards the center part of its upfold panel. When the blank is assembled into a carton, the fold line forms an end of the upfold panel as shown in Figure 2.

As shown in Figure 1, each end 11 of each downfold panel 6 tapers outwardly from the fold crease 4 to the score line 5 so that when the blank is assembled, the downfold panels taper upwardly and inwardly from their bottom edge 12 to their top edge 13, as shown in Figure 2.

To assemble the cartons of Figures 2 and 3, each downfold panel is folded downwardly upon thefold crease 4 and then the upfold panel integral therewith is folded upwardly and back upon its'downfold panel along the score line 5. The end flaps fit inbetween the downfold panels 6 and the upfold panels 7 of their adjacent corner upfold panels (see Figures 2 and 4). Staples or other suitable clasping devices (not shown) secure the downfold and upfold panels and the end flaps in place. Glue or other suitable adhesive material may also be used to secure the downfold and upfold panels and the end flaps in place.

Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 4, downward folding of the downfold panels 6 produces a recessed-bottom 14 from the bottom panel 2 for the carton of Figure 2 and upward folding of the upfold panels 7 back upon their downfold panels forms inwardly sloping sides 15 of the carton. As shown in Figures 2 and 4, the downfold panels define the periphery of the bottom ,side 16 of the recessed bottom of the carton and each upfold panel of the carton slopes inwardly from its bottom edge 12 which is also the bottom edge of its downfold panel to its, top edge 8 whereby the assembled carton can be considered a frustum of a pyramid.

panels.

ing as shown in Figures 3 and 4. Inasmuch as each upfold panel comprising a side wall of the carton slopes inwardly from its bottom edge to its top edge, the upper part of the side walls fit inside and along the downfold panels of a carton stacked vertically thereon with the top edge 8 of the side walls being in engagement with the recessed bottom 14 of the carton thereabove. Thus the top of the inwardly sloping walls of the carton below support the carton thereabove on its recessed bottom in a vertical stack. Because the downfold panels of carton A (Figure 4) and the lower part of its upfold panels fit and extend down over the upper part of the side walls of carton B beneath carton A in the vertical stack (Figure 4) around the periphery of the upper part of these side walls, the downfold panels of carton A, in combination with the lower part of its upfold panels, prevent sidewise shifting or movement of carton B placed in the vertical stack.

Figure 5 shows a second embodiment of my invention wherein the blank 17 from which the carton is assembled has a bottom panel 18, side panels 18a separated from the bottom panel 18 by first fold creases 19, and comprising downfold panels 20, 21, 22 and 23 and upfold panels 24, 25, 26 and 27 separated from the downfold panels by score lines 28. The foregoing panels, fold creases and score lines are similarly formed and arranged according to the bottom panel, side panels, downfold panels, upfold panels, fold creases and score lines of the blank of Figure l. A carton assembled from the blank has a recessed bottom and inwardly sloping sides similar to the recessed bottom and inwardly sloping sides of the carton of Figure 2.

Integral with each adjacent pair of corner upfold panels, such as upfold panels 24 and 25, is a corner panel 29 divided into sections 30 and 31 by a diagonal score line 32. When the blank is assembled into a carton, the corner sections are either infolded or outfolded upon each other and then disposed in engagement with an adjacent corner upfold panel.

A second fold crease 33 separates adjacent corner upfold panels from their corner panel 29. The second fold crease tapers inwardly from the score line 28 to the outer edges 34 and 35 of the upfold panel and of corner panel respectively. When the blank is assembled into the carton, the second fold crease forms the ends of the upfold panels and corner edges of the carton.

At each corner of the bottom panel 18 is an aperture 36 defined by the ends of adjacent corner downfold panels 'such as panels 20 and 23 and by the corner panel 29 with the aperture being in the shape of a diamond. However, the aperture can be almost any shape and can be defined notonly by adjacent corner downfold panels and the corner panel but also by adjacent corner upfold The apertures permit forming the recessed bottom and inwardly sloping sides of the carton.

Figure 6 shows a third embodiment of my invention wherein a blank 37 from which the carton is assembled a has its bottom panel 38, side panels 39, first fold creases Since the carton has a recessed bottom formed by the downfold panels and sides which slope inwardly from bottom to top, itis particularly adapted'for vertical stack 40, downfold panels 41, 42, 43 and 44, scores lines 45, upfold panels 46, 47, 48 and 49, corner panels 50, corner sections 51 and .52, diagonal score lines 53 and second fold creases 54,-substantially the same as corresponding parts of the blank of Figure 5. The carton when assembled from the blank 37 has a recessed bottom and inwardly sloping sides the same as the carton of Figure 2. At each corner of the bottom panel 38, the corner panel 50 is severed from adjacent corner downfold panels 41 and 42 along each end thereof. Specifically, the severance extends from the fold crease 40 which separates the bottom panel from the side panel to the score line 45 which divides the side panel into the downfold panel and upfold panel and forms a corner flap 55 which is integral with the corner panel 50. The diagonal score line53 extends to tip 56 of the corner .flap55. Seversections by a diagonal score line to permit said corner sections to fold upon each other and upon the adjacent corner upfold panels, each of said corner panels being separated from adjacent corner upfold panels by a crease line which tapers inwardly toward the center of the adjacent corner upfold panel from the score line to the outer edge of the upfold panel which forms the top of the carton, each of said corner panels being separated from adjacent corner downfold panels by a fold line which extends from the corner of the bottom panel to the score line dividing the upfold panel from its downfold panel, said adjacent corner downfold panels being severed from their corner panel along each end thereof from said fold crease to said score line, each of said downfold panels being adapted to be folded downwardly from the bottom panel along the fold crease to form a recessed bottom for the carton and each of said upfold panels being adapted to be folded upwardly and backwardly upon its downfold panel along said score line to form inwardly and upwardly sloping sides of the carton.

4. A blank made from flexible sheet material adapted for folding into a carton comprising a bottom panel and a side panel extending along each side of the bottom panel for substantially the length of the side, being integral with the bottom panel and being separated therefrom by a fold crease, each of said side panels being divided into a downfold panel and an upfold panel by a score line which runs substantially parallel to the fold crease, said score line extending from end to end of its side panel, a corner panel integral which each pair of adjacent corner side panels, each corner panel being divided into sections by a diagonal score line to permit said corner sections to fold upon each other and upon the adjacent corner upfold panels, each of said corner panels being separated from its adjacent corner upfold panels by a crease line which tapers inwardly toward the center part of its upfold panel from said score line to its outer edge which forms the top of the carton and being separated from adjacent corner downfold panels by a fold line which extends from the corner of the bottom panel to said score line which divides the side panel into a downfold panel and an upfold panel, apertures at each corner of said bottom panel, said apertures being defined by the ends of therdownfold panels and by at least one of said corner panels and of adjacent corner side panels, each of said downfold panels being adapted to be folded downwardly from the bottom panel along the fold crease to form a recessedbottom for the carton and each of said upfold panels being adapted to be folded upwardly and baclcwardly upon its downfold panel along said score line to form inwardly and upwardly sloping sides of the carton.

5. Theblank of claim 1 characterized by each of said upfold panels having an infold flap section integral therewith and separated therefrom by a fold line, said infold flap section being adapted to fold along said fold line inwardly down along the inside of its upfold panel and over end flaps of adjacent corner upfold panels which are in engagement with said upfold panel.

6. The blank of claim 3 characterized byreach of said upfold panels having an infold flap section integral there with and separated therefrom by a fold line, said infold flap section being adapted to fold along said fold line .inwardly down along the inside of its upfold panel and therefrom by a fold crease, each downfold panel being folded downwardly along its fold crease to form a recessed bottom of said carton an upfold panel integral with each downfold panel and separated therefrom by a score line which runs parallel to said crease line from end to end of the downfoldpanel, each of said upfold panels being folded along its-score line upwardly and back upon its downfold panel to form inwardly sloping sides of said carton, each of the ends of the upfold panel tapering inwardly toward the center part of its panel from said score line to its outer edge which forms the top of the carton, each upfold panel having an end flap integral with at least one end thereof, said end flap being separated from its upfold panel by a fold line which tapers inwardly toward the center of its upfold panel from said score line to its outer edge, said fold line which divides an end flap from its upfold panel comprising an end of the upfold panel, said end flaps being folded along their fold line and being in engagement with an adjacent corner upfold panel, adjacent corner downfold panels being severed from one another from the fold crease to said score line to permit forming the recessed bottom of the carton.

8. The carton of claim 7 characterized by adjacent corner upfold panels being severed from one another from said score line to the outer edges of said adjacent corner upfold panels.

9. A carton comprising a single piece blank made from flexible sheet material cut and folded into said carton having a bottom panel, a downfold panel integral with said bottom panel, extending along each side thereof for substantially the length of the side and being separated therefrom by a fold crease, each downfold panel being folded downwardly along its fold crease to form a recessed bottom of said carton, an upfold panel integral with each downfold panel and separated therefrom by a score line which runs parallel to said crease line from end to end of the downfold panel, each of said upfold panels being folded along its score line upwardly and back upon its downfold panel to form inwardly sloping sides of said carton, a corner panel integral with each pair of adjacent corner upfold panels and each pair of adjacent corner downfold panels, each corner panel being divided into sections by a diagonal score line to permit said corner sections to fold upon each other and upon the adjacent corner upfold panels, each of said corner panels being separated from adjacent corner upfold panels by a fold line which tapers inwardly toward the center part of the upfold panel from said score line to the outer edge of the upfold panel and being separated from adjacent corner downfold panels by a crease line which extends from the corner of the bottom panel to said score line which divides a downfold panel from its upfold panel, said corner panels being severed from their adjacent corner downfold panels along said crease line to permit forming the recessed bottom of the carton.

10. A carton comprising a single piece blank made from flexible sheet material cut and folded into said carton having a bottom panel, a downfold panel integral with said bottom panel, extending along each side thereof for substantially the length of the side and being separated therefrom by a fold crease, each downfold panel being folded downwardly along its fold crease to form a recessed bottom of said carton, an upfold panel integral with each downfold panel and separated therefrom by I a score line which runs parallel to said crease line from end to end of the downfold panel, each of'said upfold panels being folded along its score line upwardly and back upon its downfold panel to form inwardly sloping sides of said carton, a corner panel integral with each of said carton, said apertures being defined by the ends of the downfold panels and by at least one of the corner panels and of adjacent corner upfold panels, said apertures permitting forming of the recessed bottom of the carton.

11. The carton of claim 7 characterized by each of said upfold panels having an infold flap section integral therewith and separated therefrom by a fold line, said infold flap section being adapted to fold along said fold line inwardly down along the inside of its upfold panel and over end flaps of adjacent corner upfold panels which are in engagement with said upfold panel.

12. The carton of claim 9 characterized by each of said upfold panels having an infold flap section integral therewith and separated therefrom by a fold line, said infold flap section being adapted to fold along said fold line inwardly down along the inside of its upfold panel and over said corner panels in engagement with said upfold panel.

13. The blank of claim 1 characterized by each end flap defining a slot extending from its outer edge inwardly, said slot being open at said outer edge, a substantially vertical slit in each upfold panel adjacent to a corner upfold panel having a corner adjacent end flap, said slit being located inwardly from the outer edge of its upfold panel and being adapted to receive therethrough a part of said end flap, said upfold panel with the slit being adapted to engage the end flap with that part of the end flap defining the slot engaging its adjacent corner upfold panel at said slit when the blank is folded into its carton.

14. The blank of claim characterized by each section of a corner panel defining a slot extending from the outer edge of said section inwardly, said slot being open at said outer edge, the slots of atpair of sections of a corner panel being spaced equidistant from the outer tip of said corner panel, at least one substantially vertical slit in at least two oppositely spaced upfold panels, said slit being located inwardly from the outer edge of said upfold panel and being adapted to receive therethrough a part of said corner panel folded upon itself, said upfold panel being adapted to engage a corner panel with that part of the corner panel defining the slots engaging the upfold panel at said slit when the blank is folded into its carton.

15. The blank of claim 5 characterized by each section of a corner panel defining a slot extending from the outer edge of said section inwardly, said slot being open at said outer edge, the slots of a pair of sections of acorner panel being spaced equidistant from the outer tip of said corner panel, at least one substantially vertical slit in each upfold panel, said slit being located inwardly from the outer edge of said upfold panel and being adapted to receive therethrough a part of said corner panel folded upon itself, said upfold panel being adapted to engage said corner panel with that part of the corner panel defining the slot in engagement with the upfold panel at said slit when the blank is folded into its carton.

16. A blank made from flexible sheet material adapted posed on opposite sides of the bottom panel having an end flap integral with each end thereof, said end flap being;

separated from its upfold panel by a fold line, each of said fold lines tapering inwardly toward the center of its upfold panel from said score line to its outer edge which forms the top of the carton, each of said downfold panels being adapted to be folded downwardly from the bottom panel to form a recessed bottom for the carton and each of said upfold panels being adapted to be folded upwardly and backwardly upon its downfold panel along its score line to form inwardly and upwardly sloping sides of the carton with each end flap of the one pair of side panels being adapted to be in engagement with its adjacent corner upfold panel.

17. A carton comprising a single piece blank made from flexible sheet material cut and folded into said carton having a bottom panel, a downfold panel integral with said bottom panel, extending along each side thereof for the length of the side and being separated therefrom by a fold crease, each downfold panel being folded downwardly along its fold crease to form a'recessed bottom of the carton, an upfold panel integral with each downfold panel and separated therefrom by a score line which runs parallel to the fold crease of its downfold panel from end to end of the downfold panel, each of i said upfold panels being folded along its score line upfor folding into a carton comprising a bottom panel and a side panel extending along each side of the bottom panel for substantially the length of the side, being integral with the bottom panel and being separated therefrom by a fold crease, each of said side panels being divided into a downline to the outer edge of said upfold panel. which forms I the top of the carton, the other pair of upfold panels diswardly and back upon its downfold panel to form inwardly sloping sides of said carton, one pair of said upfold panels disposed on opposite sides of the bottom panel having end flaps integral therewith and separated therefrom by a crease line, each crease line tapering inwardly towards the center part of its upfold panel from said score line to the outer edge of its upfold panel which forms the top of the carton, the other pair of upfold panels disposed on opposite sides of the bottom panel having veach end thereof tapering inwardly towards its center 18. The blank of claim 1 characterized by the ends of each downfold panel inclining outwardly from said fold crease to said score line. Y

19; The blank of claim 2 characterized by the ends of" each downfold panel inclining outwardly from said fold crease to said score line.

20. The blank of claim 3 characterized by the ends of each downfold panel inclining outwardly from said fold crease to said score line.

21. The blank of claim 4 characterized by theends of each downfold panel inclining outwardly from said fold crease to said score line. i t

22. The carton of claim 7 characterized by the ends of each downfold panel inclining outwardly from said fold crease to said score line. a

23. The carton of claim 9 characterized by the ends of 'each downfold panel inclining outwardly from saidfold j crease to said score line.

24. The carton of claim 10 characterized by the ends of each downfold panel inclining outwardly from said fold crease to said score line.

7 References Cited in the file of this'patent UNITED STATES PATENTS a 1,941,843 Kulpinski Jan. 2, 1 934 1,974,095 Barnes Sept. 18, 19 34- l,985,lll Shofer .i Dec. 18, 1934. 2,796,211 Wagner June 13, 1957. 2,828,059 

